An 18-month-old child has bronchopulmonary dysplasia. To help prevent pneumococcal disease, which vaccine will be ordered?

An 18-month-old child has bronchopulmonary dysplasia. To help prevent pneumococcal disease, which vaccine will be ordered?

• A. PCV7
• B. PCV13
• C. PCV23
• D. PCV33

Answer: (B)

Conjugate pneumococcal vaccines are preferred in young children because attaching the capsule polysaccharides to a protein carrier converts the immune response from a weaker, T-independent one to a stronger, T-cell–dependent response with better memory. This leads to better protection against invasive pneumococcal disease in kids who are most at risk, such as those with chronic lung disease like bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Among the options, the 13-valent conjugate vaccine is the choice that provides broad and durable protection for an 18-month-old. It covers more serotypes than older conjugate versions and is specifically designed for use in children under 5. The older 7-valent version is outdated, and the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine is less immunogenic in young children and is used differently in high-risk groups. The 33-valent vaccine isn’t a real product. So the vaccine to order for this child is PCV13.

Conjugate pneumococcal vaccines are preferred in young children because attaching the capsule polysaccharides to a protein carrier converts the immune response from a weaker, T-independent one to a stronger, T-cell–dependent response with better memory. This leads to better protection against invasive pneumococcal disease in kids who are most at risk, such as those with chronic lung disease like bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Among the options, the 13-valent conjugate vaccine is the choice that provides broad and durable protection for an 18-month-old. It covers more serotypes than older conjugate versions and is specifically designed for use in children under 5. The older 7-valent version is outdated, and the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine is less immunogenic in young children and is used differently in high-risk groups. The 33-valent vaccine isn’t a real product. So the vaccine to order for this child is PCV13.